Eucinetidae (Coleoptera) of the Maritime Provinces of Canada

J. Acad. Entomol. Soc. 6: 16-21 (2010)

Christopher G. Majka

ABSTRACT

Four species of Eucinetidae (plate-thigh beetles) are recorded for the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Eucinetus haemorrhoidalis is newly recorded in Prince Edward Island, the first record of this family in the province; Eucinetus morio LeConte is newly recorded in New Brunswick; and Nycteus punctulatus (LeConte) is newly recorded in Nova Scotia, and in the Maritime Provinces as a whole. A key to species is provided, as are colour habitus photographs of all the species found in the region. The composition of the eucinetid fauna of the region, and its place within the saproxylic beetle fauna, are briefly discussed. RÉSUMÉ

Quatre espèces d’Eucinetidae ont été signalées dans les provinces Maritimes du Canada. L’Eucinetus haemorrhoidalis est une nouvelle espèce relevée sur l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard, la première mention de cette famille dans la province; l’Eucinetus morio LeConte est une nouvelle espèce signalée au Nouveau- Brunswick; le Nycteus punctulatus (LeConte) est une nouvelle espèce signalée en Nouvelle-Écosse ainsi que dans l’ensemble des Maritimes. Une clé des espèces ainsi que des photographies en couleurs de l’habitus de toutes les espèces présentes dans la région sont présentées. La composition de la faune eucinétidée de la région et sa place parmi la faune de coléoptères saproxyliques sont brièvement examinées.

INTRODUCTION The Eucinetidae (plate-thigh beetles) are a family in the superfamily Scirtoidea. The common name refers to one of the distinctive features of the family; greatly expanded metacoxal plates that cover most of the first visible abdominal segment, beneath which the hind legs can be retracted. Worldwide, only 37 species in eight genera are known. Of these, eleven species in four genera (Eucinetus Germar, Euscaphurus Casey, Nycteus Latreille and Tohlezkus Vit) are found in North America (Young 2002). Of these, seven species in two genera (Eucinetus and Nycetus) are known in Canada (Campbell 1991). They are found in detritus or under fungus-covered bark of trees where the larvae feed on a variety of fungi, including spores of slime molds and the fruiting bodies of basidomycete fungi in the Agaricaceae, Bolitaceae, and Coniphoraceae (Young 1982; Wheeler and Hobeke 1984). In Atlantic Canada, comparatively little attention has been paid to this family of beetles although Campbell (1991) reported two species (Eucinetus haemorrhoidalis (Germar) and Nycteus testaceus LeConte) from New Brunswick, and two (Eucinetus haemorrhoidalis and Eucinetus morio LeConte) from Nova Scotia. In the present treatment I add an additional species to the region’s faunal list, and report three new provincial records, including the first record of a species from this family from Prince Edward Island.

Received 15 May 2010. Accepted for publication 15 June. Published on the Acadian Entomological Society website at www.acadianes.org/journal.html on 19 July 2010.

Christopher G. Majka: Research Associate, Nova Scotia Museum, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 3A6.

Corresponding author (email [email protected])

IDENTIFICATION

Below is a key to the species of Eucinetidae found in Atlantic Canada adapted from Downie and Arnett (1996) and Young (2002).

1. Elytra distinctly substriate, with transverse, strigose wrinkles – Eucinetus ...... 2 – Elytra densely punctate, lacking transverse, strigose wrinkles – Nycteus ...... 3

2. Hind tibia with two spurs; elytra unicoloured, black, piceous, or reddish brown (Fig. 1a) ...... Eucinetus morio LeConte, 1853 – Hind tibia with a single spur; elytra black with tips reddish (Fig. 1b)...... Eucinetus haemorrhoidalis (Germar, 1818)

3. Punctures of pronotum and elytra rather coarse (Fig. 1c) ...... Nycteus testaceus (LeConte, 1866) – Punctures of elytra fine, those of head and pronotum even finer (Fig. 1d) ...... Nycteus punctulatus (LeConte, 1875)

Fig. 1. Dorsal habitus of Eucinetus morio LeConte (a); Eucinetus haemorrhoidalis (Germar) (b); Nycteus testaceus (LeConte) (c); Nycteus punctulatus (LeConte) (d). Photo credits: Christopher Majka, Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax, NS (a, b, d); Tom Murray, Groton, Massachusetts (c).

(a) (b) (c)

(d)

METHODS AND CONVENTIONS 6.VI.1995, E. Georgeson (1, NSNR); Debert, 10.VI.1996, J. Ogden (1, NSNR); Five Islands Park, 21.VI.2004, J. Ogden, In the context of biodiversity studies on Coleoptera, FIT (1, NSNR); North River, 15.VI.2005, J. Ogden, FIT (2, a number of collections in the Maritime Provinces of NSNR); North River, 7.VI.2005, J. Ogden, FIT (1, NSNR); Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Shubenacadie, 4.VIII.2004, D. MacDonald, FIT (1, NSNR); Island) were examined for specimens of Eucinetidae. These Guysborough Co.: Malay Lake, 16-29.VII.1997, D.J. Bishop, collections yielded 50 specimens. Abbreviations (following red spruce, FIT (1, NSMC); Halifax Co.: Halifax, 18.IV.1979, Evenhuis 2009) of collections referred to in this study are: J. Ripley (1, NSMC); Pockwock Lake, 1-16.VII.1997, D.J. Abbreviations employed: FIT, flight intercept trap. Bishop, mature red spruce, FIT (1, NSMC); Pogwa Lake, 1- 16.VII.1997, D.J. Bishop, red spruce, FIT (1, NSMC); Pictou ACPE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Co.: Trafalgar, 15.VII.1998, J. Ogden (1, NSNR); Queens Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada CBU Cape Breton University, Co.: Kejimkujik National Park, 28.VII-11.VIII.1994, B. Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada Wright, deciduous forest (1, NSMC); Victoria Co.: Cape CNC Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids, Breton Highlands, 22.VI.2005, J. Ogden, FIT (2, NSNR); and Nematodes, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Yarmouth Co.: Moses Lake, 8 km N Argyle, 17-22.VII.1993, DHWC David H. Webster Collection, J. & T. Cook, mixed forest, FIT (1, JCC); Wellington, 15- Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada JCC Joyce Cook Collection (now at the New Brunswick Museum, 24.VII.1993, J. & T. Cook, mixed coastal forest (1, JCC). Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada) JRC Justin Renkema Collection, Dalhousie University, Eucinetus morio is newly recorded in New Brunswick. In Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Nova Scotia there are records from coniferous, deciduous, NSMC Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada coastal, and mixed forests. Downie and Arnett (1996) NSNR Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources Insectary, Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, Canada recorded it in fungi on decaying oak stumps while Weiss SMU Saint Mary's University, and West (1921) recorded it from the slime mold Trichia Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (Trichiaceae). Chandler (1991) found it in an area where the UMNB Université de Moncton, slime mold Stemonitis axifera (Bull.) Macbr. (Myxomycetes: Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada Stemonitidaceae) was common, a species which has RESULTS been noted as a host by Lawrence and Newton (1980). As a result of these investigations, three species of Eucinetus haemorrhoidalis (Germar, 1818) eucinetids were found in the Maritime Provinces (Table 1). Eucinetus haemorrhoidalis is newly recorded in Prince NEW BRUNSWICK: Kent Co.: Kouchibouguac National Edward Island, the first record of this family in the Park, 30.VIII.1977, S.J. Miller (1, CNC); Kouchibouguac province; Eucinetus morio LeConte is newly recorded National Park, 10.VI.1978, D.B. Lyons (1, CNC); in New Brunswick; and Nycteus punctulatus (LeConte) Northumberland Co.: Tabusintac, 20.VI.1938, W.J. Brown is newly recorded in Nova Scotia, and in the Maritime (1, CNC). NOVA SCOTIA: Colchester Co.: Bible Hill, Provinces as a whole. Pending verification, the status 1.VIII.2007, C.W. D’Orsay, pasture, sweep (1, CBU); Bible of Nycteus testaceus in the region should be regarded Hill, 15.VI.2007, C.W. D’Orsay, pasture, sweep (3, CBU); as hypothetical. Details of species records follow below: Cape Breton Co.: Sydney: CBU, 31.VIII.1999, S. P. Roach (1, CBU); Cumberland Co.: Little River, 9.VII.2004, D. Eucinetidae Lacordaire, 1857 MacDonald, spruce beetle trap (1, NSNR); Tatamagouche Park, 3.IX.2004, D. MacDonald, spruce beetle trap (1, Eucinetus morio LeConte, 1853 NSNR); Halifax Co.: York Redoubt, 31.VII.2003, C. Staicer, jack pine forest, pitfall trap (1, NSMC); Hants NEW BRUNSWICK: Westmorland Co.: Moncton, Co.: Upper Rawdon, 26.VIII.2008, J. Renkema, highbush 13.VII.1987, P. Maltais (1, UMNB). NOVA SCOTIA: blueberry field, pitfall trap (1, JRC);Pictou Co.: Green Hill, Antigonish Co.: Cape George, 8.VIII.1996, M. LeBlanc (1, 25.VIII.2004, D. MacDonald, spruce beetle trap (1, NSNR). NSNR); Eigg Mountain, 30.VI.1994, M. LeBlanc (1, NSNR); PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND: Queens Co.: Harrington, Morar, 7.VII.1993, M. LeBlanc (1, NSNR); Colchester 16.IX.2004, C. Noronha, barley field, pitfall trap (1, ACPE). Co.: Debert, 2.VI.1998, E. Georgeson (1, NSNR); Debert, Eucinetus haemorrhoidalis is newly recorded in Prince

Table 1. Eucinetidae fauna of the Maritime Provinces of Canada

NB PEI mNS CB Distribution in NE North America

Eucinetus haemorrhoidalis (Germar) 1 1 1 1 MA, ME, NB, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC Eucinetus morio LeConte 1 1 1 MA, ME, NB, NH, NS, ON, QC Nycteus punctulatus (LeConte) 1 MA, NB, NH, NS, ON, QC Nycteus testaceus (LeConte) ? ME, NB, NH, ON, QC

NOTE: NB = New Brunswick; PE = Prince Edward Island; mNS = mainland Nova Scotia; CB = Cape Breton Island.

Distribution in northeastern North America: for the purposes of this treatment, northeastern North America is taken to consist of the following jurisdictions: CT, Connecticut; LB, Labrador; MA, Massachusetts; ME, Maine; NB, New Brunswick; NF, insular Newfoundland; NH, New Hampshire; NS, Nova Scotia; NY, New York; ON; Ontario; PE, Prince Edward Island; PM, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon; QC, Québec; RI, Rhode Island; and VT, Vermont.

Edward Island, the first record of this family in the province. Trafalgar, Liscomb Sanctuary, 19.VII.1992, S. & J. Peck, In the Maritime Provinces there are records from pastures, car net (2, JCC); Halifax Co.: Burnside, 29.VII.2003, C. barley fields, highbush blueberry fields, and a jack pine Cormier, in forest on decomposing pig (1, SMU); Hants forest. In Europe it has been observed in fungal growths Co.: Leminister, 1-16.VII.1997, D.J. Bishop, red spruce/ under stumps and logs (particularly Pinus and Quercus spp.), hemlock, FIT (1, NSMC); Upper Rawdon, 26.VIII.2008, J. in rotting plant remains on sandy soil, in fungus-infested Renkema, highbush blueberry field, pitfall trap (1, DAL); roots of Euphorbia, in Polyporus spp. (Basidiomycetes: Kings Co.: Cambridge, 5.IX.2006, D.H. Webster, on Pinus Polyporaceae) fungi on birch trees, and under stones strobus L. (Pinaceae) slabwood (1, DHWC); Lunenburg (Klausnitzer 1971, 1975; Lawrence and Newton 1980). Co.: Bridgewater, 1-16.VII.1965, B. Wright (1, NSMC); There exists some uncertainty with respect to the Bridgewater, 1-16.VII.1965, B. Wright, under red oak, pitfall zoogeographic status of this species. In the Old World trap (1, NSMC); Yarmouth Co.: Wellington, 23-29.VIII.1992, it has a wide distribution from France and Italy, east J. Cook, mixed forest, FIT (3, JCC); Wellington, 12- across the central and northern regions of continental 20.VIII.1991, J. Cook, coastal forest, FIT (1, JCC); Wellington, Europe, to Russia, across Siberia, east to Korea (Kim and 25.VI-J3.VII.1995, J. & F. Cook, mixed forest (1, JCC). Ahn 2008; Audisio 2009). In North America it is also widely distributed in northern portions of the continent Nycteus punctulatus is newly recorded in Nova Scotia and from the Northwest Territories and British Columbia, in the Maritime Provinces as a whole. There are records east to Nova Scotia (Campbell 1991). Although Campbell from a variety of habitats including coniferous, mixed, and (1991) listed it as an adventive Palaearctic species, the coastal forests, under red oak, in highbush blueberry fields, wide Canadian distribution could also be indicative and associated with carrion. Bruns (1984) reported adult of a native species with a Holarctic distribution. Nycteus punctulatus feeding on Paragyrodon sphaerosporus Further research is required to resolve this question. (Peck) Sing. (Agricales: Bolitaceae). Larvae were also found on this fungus, as well as on the gills of Paxillus Nycteus punctulatus (LeConte, 1875) involutus (Batsch. ex. Fr.) Fr. (Agricales: Paxillaceae).

NOVA SCOTIA: Cumberland Co.: Spencer’s Island, Nycteus testaceus (LeConte, 1866) 16.VI.1995, C. Corkum, old coniferous forest, FIT (1, NSMC); Westchester-Londonderry, 20.VII.1992, S. & J. Nycteus testaceus was reported from New Brunswick Peck, forest road, car net (3, JCC); Guysborough Co.: by Campbell (1991). It is unclear what the source of this

record is. There are no specimens of this species at the Fig. 2. Distribution of species of Eucinetidae in the Maritime CNC, or in any of the regional collections in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Provinces. It is not recorded from New Brunswick in Horn (1880), Leng (1920), Downie and Arnett (1996), Vit (1999), or Young (2002), the regional or taxonomic treatments that have dealt with this family. Nycteus testaceus has, however, been recorded in both Maine (Chandler 2001) and Québec (Laplante et al. 1991) and could plausibly occur in New Brunswick. Pending verification, its status in New Brunswick should be regarded as hypothetical. DISCUSSION Although the collecting effort for plate-thigh beetles in the Maritime Provinces has been modest, some distributional patterns are apparent. Eucinetus haemorrhoidalis, Eucinetus morio, and Nycteus punctulatus appear to well distributed in Nova Scotia, although Eucinetus haemorrhoidalis has not been recorded in the southern portion of the province and Nycteus punctulatus has not been recorded on Cape Breton University), Delancey Bishop, Joyce Cook (Carleton Breton Island (Fig. 2). There are records of Eucinetus University), Justin Renkema (Dalhousie University), haemorrhoidalis and Eucinetus morio, in New Brunswick, Giulio Cuccodoro (Muséum d’histoire naturelle de la however, there is little information on their distribution in Ville de Genève), Jeff Ogden (Nova Scotia Department the province. The status ofNycteus testaceus in the region is of Natural Resources), Chantelle Cormier (Saint Mary’s hypothetical. Eucinetus haemorrhoidalis is the only species University), Gaétan Moreau (Université de Moncton), recorded on Prince Edward Island. In terms of other Donald Chandler (University of New Hampshire), and species in the region, Nycteus oviformis (LeConte, 1866) David Webster (Kentville, NS) for providing specimens has been recorded in New Hampshire (Chandler 2001) and and information that contributed to this study. Thanks to consequently might also occur in the Maritime Provinces. Tom Murray (Groton, MA), for providing a photograph The Eucinetidae are a component of the saproxylic insect of Nycteus testaceus. This work has been assisted by fauna, feeding on fungi and Myxomycetes associated with the Board of Governors of the Nova Scotia Museum. decaying wood in forested environments. Over the past several years a number of studies (Kehler et al. 2004; Dollin et al. 2008; Bishop et al. 2009) have investigated REFERENCES the saproxylic beetle fauna of Nova Scotia. Majka (2009) Audisio, A. 2009. Fauna Europea: Coleoptera, Eucinetidae. surveyed several studies of forest beetles in Nova Scotia Fauna Europea, version 2.0. Available from http://www. and found that saproxylic species comprised 63–79% of faunaeur.org [accessed 20 May 2010] forest Coleoptera, an indication of the scale and relative Bishop, D.J., Majka, C.G., Bondrup-Nielsen, S., and Peck, importance of this fauna. Developing an understanding S.B. 2009. Deadwood and saproxylic beetle diversity in of the diversity, distribution, abundance, and biology of naturally disturbed and managed spruce forests in Nova species such as eucinetids contributes to an understanding Scotia. In Biodiversity, Biosystematics, and Ecology of of the complex processes of wood decay and forest ecology. Canadian Coleoptera II. Edited by C.G. Majka, and J. Klimaszewski. ZooKeys, 22: 309–340. Available from http://pensoftonline.net/zookeys/index.php/journal/ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS article/view/144/242 [accessed 20 May 2010] Bruns, T.D. 1984. Insect mycophagy in the Boletales: Many thanks to Christine Noronha (Agriculture and Fungivore diversity and the mushroom habitat. In Agri-food Canada, Prince Edward Island), Serge Laplante Fungus/Insect Relationships: Perspectives in Ecology (Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids, and and Evolution. Edited by Q. Wheeler, and M. Blackwell. Nematodes), Clayton D’Orsay, David McCorquodale (Cape Columbia University Press, New York. pp. 91–129.

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